It’s easy to discount the discomfort as a by-product of living in a country with so much bio-diversity, but Victoria’s chief health officer is urging Victorians to familiarise themselves with the risks and stay vigilant as the state rolls into mosquito season.
“Mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance,” Dr Caroline McElnay said.
“They can carry viruses that cause serious illness, so it’s important Victorians don’t underestimate the risk.”
Those diseases include Japanese encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis, Ross River virus, West Nile Kunkin Virus, Burli ulcer, and our very own Barmah Forest virus, first isolated, as the name suggests, in Barmah Forest.
While most of these diseases are rare, their symptoms can still be severe.
Fortunately, with a few small steps, northern Victorians can mitigate some the potential risks.
“People in northern Victoria, particularly those spending time outdoors near wetlands, farms or areas of standing water, should take extra care to avoid mosquito bites,” a Department of Health spokesperson said.
“Barmah Forest virus is very rare in Victoria. The best protection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, including covering up, using an effective mosquito repellent and limiting outdoor activity around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are particularly active.”
For more information on mosquito-borne diseases and how to protect yourself, visit tinyurl.com/thxtvceu
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